Multimedia Reporting (Kuhr-Musser)

Inmate population at the Douglas County Jail has quadrupled in the last 10 years. With more growth anticipated, consultants from the National Institute for Corrections will visit in the first part of March.

Kenneth Massey, Douglas County Undersheriff, said the NIC has two goals: to evaluate the over-crowding situation and to evaluate programs within the facility.

“Overpopulation is a problem now that is affecting every jail and every prison in the country. Since 1999 when the jail opened, to today, there has been an eight percent per year increase in population. This year’s average estimate is 180, but it fluctuates.”

Massey said the jail is overpopulated right now. Maximum capacity is 196 beds. If growth continues as expected, the average population in 2007 will be 194. This does not leave much breathing room.

$360,000 was spent less than a year ago for a slight expansion to handle the growing inmate population. BA Green Construction Co. was hired for the project. Tracy Green, company president, said the addition was a 32 foot by 32 foot enclosed exercise area used for work-release inmates. He also said some interior remodeling was done.

Massey said three beds were lost because of internal renovation. He also said factors figure in to the maximum capacity equation that don’t allow all of the beds to be used. With 56 work-release beds and 25 women’s beds, that leaves 115 workable beds for males. Some inmates stay in the work-release area under strict criteria.

“A growing population of inmates has led to problems with where to place them because of security areas,” said Dan Rowe, principal at Treanor Architects. “We have been talking with the county about assisting with expansion needs.”

Treanor Architects built the jail six and a half years ago, but no new plans have been made.

“I am confident that many other avenues will be explored to decrease population, such as probation, parole, sentencing in courts and house arrest,” Massey said.

Reentry of inmates into society is a means of population control the jail is working to improve. The NIC will evaluate AA, NA, religious programs and others to see how or if they fit with successful reentry.

“Reentry is very important to keep inmates from re-offending,” Massey said.

Craig Weinaug, County Administrator, said that each inmate must have a physical exam when admitted. Massey said as the jail continues to grow, it may need to get another nurse.

On February 8, 2006, the Douglas County Commission approved a $61,472 nursing staff increase at the jail to alleviate staff overwhelmed by its population.

Douglas County Visiting Nurses Association provides nursing services to the jail through a contract with Douglas County. The approved contract increase pays for the addition of two Certified Medication Aides and extended hours.

Judy Bellome, executive director of VNA, said that at least a third of inmates receive medication four times a day. Under the old contract, nurses did physicals and gave medications but the job became too large for the staff. The fact that uncertified guards had to distribute medications at night was considered a liability issue by the county commission during approval.

The contract VNA proposed to the commission included another, more expensive option to increase the nursing staff, but was never considered. This option would fund for even more CMAs to free up corrections staff and nurses as the inmate population grows.

Both Bellome and Massey said the current contract option provides an “adequate” staff. Guards still distribute medications past 10 p.m. and seldom, if ever while the nursing staff is on duty.

“This plan will benefit inmates by having a certified, knowledgeable person distributing medications and available for help,” Bellome said. “It was a business decision.”

Weinaug said the price increase will be covered by savings from cutting transportation and food costs.

“We have to be good stewards of taxpayer’s money,” Massey said.

As the inmate population continues to swell, the current space and staff may not suffice, regardless of thousands spent in the last year.